A young pastry chef interested in pairing food and wine, Giulio Cocchi founded his business in the North Western Italian town of Asti, the capital of Moscato wines in 1891. He begun blending wines with herbs and producing bottle fermented sparkling wines.

By the turn of the century his Barolo Chinato and Aperitivo Americano had become locally renowned with exports to London, New York, Africa and South America. Today the winery, which also produces a range of sparkling wines is owned and operated by the Bava Family.